PERIKATAN Nasional (PN) on Wednesday unveiled its candidate list for the Selangor polls, which included established veterans, a civil servant, a content producer, a well-known preacher and a reformed “gangster”. 

However, speculation that some Umno veterans like former Umno Supreme Council member and ex-Tanjong Karang MP Noh Omar would represent PN were proven false.

The only high-profile Umno defector set to represent PN in the polls was Harrison Hassan, who is eyeing the Jeram seat. 

Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi downplayed Harrison’s candidacy, saying his party had known for a month that Harrison was talking shop with PN.

As widely expected, the Selangor charge will be led by Mohamed Azmin Ali, who will contest the Hulu Kelang seat. 

The former Selangor menteri besar, who was three-term Bukit Antarabangsa incumbent, will face former Bukit Melawati assemblyman Juwairiya Zulkifli of PKR.

The Malay-majority constituency was held by Amanah’s Saari Sungib for three consecutive terms until he declined reelection due to health issues.

Azmin is no stranger to the Hulu Kelang seat, having won it in 1999 before losing it to Barisan Nasional (BN) in 2004.

He was menteri besar from 2014 to 2018 and held Bukit Antarabangsa for three terms from 2008 when he was still in PKR.

The following are summaries of some notable PN candidates who will stand in Selangor.

Batu Tiga: PN women’s chief Rina Harun 

Former women, family and community development minister and PN women’s chief Rina Harun had flown under the radar after losing the Sepang parliamentary seat in last year’s general election.

She is expected to face Amanah candidate Danial Al Rashid and Muda’s Syaidiyah Izzati Nur Razak Maideen.

Pandan Indah: Reformed ‘gangster’ Fazil Dali, or ‘Ayahanda Cik Ton’ 

Fazil Dali’s announcement of his past created a stir last night.

Cik Ton, as he is popularly known, has come a long way from his days on the wrong side of the law. 

He owned a charity – Pertubuhan Kebajikan ACT Malaysia (ACT), which in its early days back in 2013 earned a reputation for activities that bordered on gangsterism. However, he turned ACT around and it began doing social and religious work, which earned him kudos. 

Fazil’s quest is to win the Pandan Indah seat from Pakatan Harapan (PH). He faces incumbent Izham Hashim of PKR.

Ijok: Content creator Jefri Mejan

Jefri Mejan has more than 336,000 followers on Facebook and TikTok, and is known for his posts about cooking traditional food on a wood stove. 

This is Jefri’s second outing in the seat. He lost it in the 2018 general election on a PAS ticket.

Dengkil: Civil servant Jamil Salleh 

Former secretary-general of the then Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, Jamil Salleh, has been entrusted to win the Dengkil seat. 

Jamil retired in January 2019, after serving for more than 35 years in public service. 

He also served as Youth and Sports Ministry chief secretary in 2013. 

Jamil joined the civil service as a Youth and Sports Ministry officer in 1983 before being appointed an administrative and diplomatic officer on January 13, 1986. 

The Dengkil seat was won by Bersatu back when it was a PH component. Jamil is replacing incumbent Adhif Syan Abdullah.

Sungai Burong: Celebrity preacher Mohd Zamri Zainuldin 

This is Mohd Zamri Zainuldin’s (better known as celebrity preacher Zamri Mantop) second go at the Sungai Burong seat. 

The Tanjong Karang PAS chief lost in the 2018 general election to BN’s Mohd Shamsuddin Lias. 

Zamri will face BN candidate Mohamad Khir Ramli.

Permatang: Ex-Umno leader’s daughter Nurul Syazwani Noh

Nurul Syazwani Noh will take up cudgels for PN in Permatang, a state seat in the Tanjong Karang parliamentary constituency.

Her father Noh Omar’s influence is deep-rooted in the constituency, and is expected to give her an edge over others. 

PN held five seats in the assembly before it was dissolved – Bersatu with four seats and PAS with one.

PH had 40 seats (PKR: 19 seats, DAP: 15, Amanah: 6), BN held five, and Parti Bangsa Malaysia held two. Pejuang and Warisan had one each, along with one Independent.

The Election Commission declared the state polls for Kedah, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Penang, Terengganu, and Kelantan be held simultaneously with the Kuala Terengganu parliamentary by-election on August 12, with nominations on July 29 and early voting on August 8. – July 28, 2023.